California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Sunday that he increased California National Guard personnel to combat the Los Angeles wildfires.
In a statement, Newsom said he was adding 1,000 more members to combat the spread of the fires, bringing the total to 2,500 service members. Thousands of other first responders are attempting to rein in the flames as more winds are expected in the area.
“The men and women of the California National Guard have been on the ground since day one – not only fighting fires, but also assisting with public safety efforts in communities devastated by these fires,” Newsom said in a statement. “We thank them for their efforts to keep our communities safe.”
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday. At least 16 people have died so far and entire neighborhoods have been flattened.
As of Sunday morning, the Pacific Palisades fire had burned more than 62 square miles and was 11 percent contained. The Eaton Fire containment reached 27 percent, The Associated Press reported.
Canada and Mexico have each deployed firefighters to help combat the fires.
Newsom declared a state of emergency earlier this week and called for an independent probe of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as concerns and questions have been raised about the city’s water supply and usage.
In one of his final acts as commander in chief, President Biden sent federal aid and FEMA is working on the ground to support the impacted communities.
President-elect Trump has sharply criticized Newsom as the fires rage on, politicizing the blue state and calling for the governor’s resignation.
